Kelly McManus '12 was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Bates field hockey program on July 1, 2026, after joining head coach Dani Kogut's staff in 2024. A former Bobcat captain and standout student-athlete, McManus has helped guide Bates through the most successful stretch in program history.
As part of the 2025 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, McManus helped lead the Bobcats to their first NESCAC Championship, a second consecutive NCAA Quarterfinal appearance, and a program-record 16 victories. In her first season with Bates in 2024, the Bobcats posted a then-program-record 14 wins, finished as NESCAC runners-up, and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
McManus returned to her alma mater after eight seasons as an assistant coach at Bowdoin College, where she helped the Polar Bears compile an 83-35 overall record and earn multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Bowdoin, she began her collegiate coaching career at MIT, serving as an assistant coach from 2012-15 and helping the Engineers capture the 2012 NEWMAC Championship.
One of the most accomplished student-athletes in Bates history, McManus played in 56 field hockey games, making 53 starts while totaling four goals and 13 assists. She earned Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-Region honors as a senior midfielder and served as a team captain. She also competed for three seasons on the Bates softball team, appearing in 80 games while batting .276 with 16 career stolen bases.
McManus earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Bates in 2012, where she received the Evelyn K. Dillon Award recognizing superior athleticism, leadership, dedication, and contributions to the field hockey program. She later earned a master's degree in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University in 2015.
A native of Plymouth, N.H., McManus remains deeply connected to the Bates community through her commitment to developing student-athletes and building upon the Bobcats' championship tradition.
